Tim Benjamin has only had one 400 metres race this season, but coach Jock Anderson is so confident of his talent that he has tipped him to win a medal at the European junior championships this week.

Benjamin started his journey to Grosseto in Italy straight after the 200m final at the world championship trials in Birmingham on Sunday.

And Anderson, who guided Newport's Christian Malcolm to superstar status, believes Benjamin can make a real impact in the one-lap event.

"He's definitely capable of getting a medal," said Anderson in the wake of Benjamin's emergence as a 400m runner with a European junior best time of 46.43 seconds when he beat world indoor 400m silver medallist Milton Campbell and British senior international Jared Deacon at Loughborough last month.

"It should do him a lot of good going into the championships as top European.

"But we're hoping there are only two rounds, which will suit Tim."

Benjamin competed in the 200m - his usual distance at which he has won a world junior bronze medal, a world youth gold medal and a European junior silver - at the junior trials in Bedford but after his display over 400 decided to step up.

Anderson said, "We were disappointed with the trials. He came second. But he missed out on training in America.

"It wasn't my idea to do the 400. He feels more confident over that distance.

"I've been amazed how well he has run because we haven't done any training for the 400m - only his sprinting work"

The Newport-based Scotsman is still hoping he can get Benjamin into the Great Britain 4x400m relay squad for the world championships in Edmonton next month.

Malcolm is already booked on the plane in the 200m squad and could double up in the 100m if Cardiff-based Darren Campbell fails to recover fitness in time. Anderson said, "We are a bit disappointed after he came second in the 200. That's two years in a row that's happened.

"I wouldn't have minded if it had been a faster time. I've told Christian that he can have a few days rest while I am away, and it's up to him if he competes at the Grand Prix in Crystal Palace on Sunday."

Newport Harrier James Nasrat, City of Stoke athlete Matthew Jones, Cardiff hurdler Nathan Palmer and Swansea Harrier high jumper Chuka Enih-Snell join Benjamin in the Great Britain under-20s team for the four-day championship that starts today.